Improved self-regulating wind-wheel



l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER P. llTILSON, OF SOLON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED SELF-REGULATING WIND-WHEEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,818, dated March 10,1857.

To all 2071/0771/ it muy concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER P. WILSON, of Solon, in the county of McHenryand State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved HorizontallVind-XVheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a side View of myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a plan or top View of thesame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

This invention consists in having the sails of the wind-wheel formedeach of two parts and inclined so that when closed to offer the greatestresistance to the wind they meet or are in contact at one end, theopposite ends being connected to horizontal arms on the shaft of thewheel. The upper parts of the sails are hinged to the upper arms of theshafts and have cords attached to them, so that they may be adjusted toregulate the speed of the wheel. Weights are also attached to saidripper parts by which the wheel is rendered self-regulating, as will behereinafter fully shown and described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a vertical shaft, which is fitted in a proper framing B,and C represents four radial arms attached to the upper end of saidshaft.

D represents four similar arms attached to the shaft A some distancebelow the arms C. (See Fig. l.)

To the outer parts of the arms C D inclined frames a b are attached, theouter ends of the upper frames a inclining downward from the arms C andthe outer ends of the lower frames t) inclining upward from the arms D,the outer ends of the two frames being connected permanently together,as clearly shown in Fig. l. On the lower frames Z7 sails E arestretched. These sails are permanently attached to the frames b. To theinner ends of the upper fra-mes a, adjoining the arms C, frames c arehinged or connected by suitable pivots or joints.A The frames c fitwithin the upper frames a and have sails F stretched over them. To theouter ends of the frames c cords d are attached, said cords passing overpulleys e on the arms C and downward through clamps f, attached to thelower arms D. To the sails E weights G are attached, as shown in Fig. l.

From the above description of parts it will be seen that each sail,strictly speaking, is formed of two parts E F, so inclined as to form anangle to receive the wind which entersbetween them and acts against theupper and lower parts; and it will be seen that as the two sets' of armsC D rotate the sails before they reach the proper point to receive thewind between them do not oder much resistance to it, for their exteriorsurfaces are presented to it, and said surfaces form a double inclinedplane, the edge of which is presented to the wind. In case of suddengusts of Wind,

or when the velocity of the wind is very variable, the wheel will have auniform velocity on account of the upper parts F of the sails being`allowed to rise and fall. The weights G are of a requisite size to keepthe outer ends of the parts F down in contact with the outer ends ofthev parts E when the full force of the wind is required; but when thefull force of the wind is not required, in case of an increase in itsvelocity the force of the Wind will overcome the gravity of the weightsG and raise the outer ends of the parts F, and thereby forman openin gof su fcient capacity to allow a requisite portion of wind commensuratewith its Velocity to escape or pass through, so that its full effectiveforce is not obtain ed, and the wheel, therefore, will rotate with auniform speed, however variable the velocity of the wind maybe. Thewheel may be stopped by raising the upper parts F to a horizontalposition. This is done by drawing downward the cords d, which areretained iu proper position by the clampsf.

The outer ends of the arms C D may have weights g attached to them,which in consequence of their inertia will serve to render the upperparts F of the sails more sensitive, so that they will be raised andlowered by a slight variation of the velocity of the wind.

This wind-wheel may be constructed at a small cost. There are no partsliable to get out of repair, and they may be constructed of n manner, sothat' a greater or less surface or area may be presented to the actionof the wind.

I do do not claim, broadly, the application of Weights to adjustablesails, whereby the sails by the action of the Wind are adjusted so as topresent a greater or less surface to it, according to its Velocity, forWeights have been applied and arranged in various ways for effectingthis purpose; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

Constructing the sails of two parts E F, attached or fitted to inclinedframes which are secured to the arms C D, the upper parts F of the sailsbeing hinged to their frames a, and having Weights G and cords (Zattached, 'substantially as shown and described, for the purpose setforth ABNER l?. 'WILSOA Vtnesses:

R. R. CROSBY, DAN DELANCY.

